SEXIEST PERSONS ALIVE

Saturday, July 23, 2011

dead at 27

I am stunned but not surprised. Sad to the point of tears. I loved this young singer's voice. So bluesy and raw. This decade's Janice.

I remember so clearly the first time I heard Amy's music. A driveway moment. Saturday night. Sitting in the living room of friends. Vodka and cranberry in my hand. A vintage orange and pink tumbler.

Who is this? I loved what I heard. The newly acquired Back to Black, Amy's album destined to win six Grammies. I asked to replay the album later in the evening. I was so excited to hear someone new, someone who sounded this good. I never stopped loving her sound.

And then the drugs. Those reapers of so many young and troubled musicians. A tabloid photo showing her arms so thin, her skin so sallow. References to meth addiction. It occurred to me, She could die, too. I anxiously followed her up and down progress.

And now today.

Rest in peace, Miss Winehouse. You sure didn't seem to rest on this earth.

Yes, me too - stunned and amazed at the music and the voice; disturbed at the drug use and self-destruction.

Her talent revealed so much about her, and what must have been inner pain. It is amazing to think that the song "Love is a Losing Game" was written by someone so young - it should have been written by a person who's lived half a century or more.

It's so sad - she was somehow so deeply damaged that she was unable to pull out of her self-destructive spin.

Susan -- Not meant to live long lives, more at risk to become addicted, working in a profession that has a very high rate of substance abuse, and maybe an underlying mental disorder or secret family dysfunction or abuse of some sort? The "why" of her death could be multi-factored. The loss of such a talented person makes it so much sadder. I'm selfish - I wanted to hear more of her voice.

It's very sad that she's gone. I couldn't quite believe it when I heard the news last week. I feel so sorry for her. The British tabloids made a killing selling stories about her drug and alcohol binges, while casting so much judgement at the same time. Maybe if they'd been a little kinder she would have found it easier to cope.